A review by richardrbecker
48 Hours by William R. Forstchen
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I'm a fan of the One Second After series by William R. Forstchen. Unfortunately, 48 Hours falls short despite a similar premise with much higher stakes.
This time, humanity is faced with a Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun (instead of EMPs), threatening to shut down and possibly destroy the world's electrical infrastructure. Worse, the CME is expected to peel back the magnetosphere just before a more sinister event, which could lead to a mass extinction.
Forstchen has the chops to write such a story, but he just doesn't do it. There are too many infodumps, too many plotlines, too many characters, too many themes to tackle, and even some repetitive narratives that weigh the novel down until it becomes untenable. Add a short timeframe of 48 Hours to these troubles, and Forstchen never allows readers to really understand any of the characters beyond the surface, which are often stereotypical: a national security-crazed admiral, a populous 'people' president, a selfish governor, an overtly analytical scientist, a morally-inspired serjeant, etc.
In his afterward, he calls the 48 Hours an essay. And in doing so, he provides an accurate description of the work. The book's information is interesting if you have never thought about it before, which is the best part of the novel for those who enjoy simplified science. But if you are looking for characters with more depth or a more exciting plot, like those from his One Second After series, 40 Hours will likely fall short for you too.
This time, humanity is faced with a Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun (instead of EMPs), threatening to shut down and possibly destroy the world's electrical infrastructure. Worse, the CME is expected to peel back the magnetosphere just before a more sinister event, which could lead to a mass extinction.
Forstchen has the chops to write such a story, but he just doesn't do it. There are too many infodumps, too many plotlines, too many characters, too many themes to tackle, and even some repetitive narratives that weigh the novel down until it becomes untenable. Add a short timeframe of 48 Hours to these troubles, and Forstchen never allows readers to really understand any of the characters beyond the surface, which are often stereotypical: a national security-crazed admiral, a populous 'people' president, a selfish governor, an overtly analytical scientist, a morally-inspired serjeant, etc.
In his afterward, he calls the 48 Hours an essay. And in doing so, he provides an accurate description of the work. The book's information is interesting if you have never thought about it before, which is the best part of the novel for those who enjoy simplified science. But if you are looking for characters with more depth or a more exciting plot, like those from his One Second After series, 40 Hours will likely fall short for you too.